Buckeye students beat Michigan during ‘best makeover’ HGTV special
On June 22, the Raise a Roof College Challenge aired nationwide on HGTV. The fun, competitive makeover event featured the nation’s greatest college rivals and benefitted two Rebuilding Together-sponsored homes near the Ohio State and Michigan campuses. Rebuilding Together provides critical repairs and renovations for low-income homeowners across the country.
The Ohio State team, comprised primarily of College of Engineering students, won both the fundraising challenge and the home improvement project challenges featured on the show.
After a winter recruiting visit from show host Chris Grundy, several aspiring teams at Ohio State raised more than $4,000 for Rebuilding Together Central Ohio. The team that raised the most funds landed an appearance on the television special and an additional $25,000 HGTV donation for the local Rebuilding Together affiliate.
The self-dubbed Diversity and Development Team was Ohio State’s top fundraiser. Team members Naomi Alula (Industrial and Systems Engineering), Fatima Kebe (Industrial and Systems Engineering), Mariya Kim (Industrial and Systems Engineering), Eduardo Calzadilla-Kolodziej (Materials Science and Engineering), Ciera Brooks (Mechanical Engineering), Rishona Headen-Brown (Food, Agriculture and Biological Engineering), Helen Chen (Biology), Paul Sommer (Materials Science and Engineering), Keith Bonzo (Computer Science and Engineering), and Ann Hubena (Industrial Systems and Engineering) collectively raised $2,084.91 in under three months. The University of Michigan’s top team, Team Shoelace, raised $1,550.
In mid-April, Ohio State and Michigan students spent a weekend with HGTV and DIY Network designers and craftsmen transforming a house for a family in need in their local communities. The Ohio State students applied engineering skills and elbow grease to flooring installation, furniture construction, painting and yard work to better a home in southwest Columbus.
During the special, the teams were challenged to fix a safety issue, upcycle an existing item in the home and showcase their school spirit. With the help of DIY Network’s Anitra Mecadon (Mega Dens), the Ohio State team transformed a home for a single mother of two young daughters−one of whom is autistic. In the meantime, HGTV’s Chip Wade (Elbow Room) worked with the Michigan team to overhaul a home in Ypsilanti, where a mother and daughter needed help to create a comfortable living environment.
When the house transformations were complete and projects were evaluated, Raise a Roof College Challenge judges again hailed Ohio State as victors, this time on national television. Watch the entire episode here.
“We were so pleased with the caliber of students who agreed to participate in the fundraising challenge,” she said, “and the rivalry of these two Universities is incredible. Overall they were highly competitive, but very respectful. It’s really all about the bragging rights with these two schools!”
Ohio State team leaders Eduardo Calzadilla-Kolodziej and Ciera Brooks also shared a $10,000 HGTV scholarship for being the top individual fundraisers. Brooks was impressed by how generous and caring her fellow students and Ohio State faculty can be, while Calzadilla-Kolodziej liked how engineering skills made a difference.
"It was great to have the opportunity to use problem solving techniques learned in our Ohio State classes to raise money for Rebuilding Together,” said Calzadilla-Kolodziej. ““We organized, delegated and came up with creative ways to tackle each challenge.”
The Raise a Roof Challenge is sponsored by Sherwin-Williams.
“We are immensely proud of all the students who participated,” said Kathleen Finch, general manager, HGTV and DIY Network. “It is remarkable that these students are able to make a change in the homes of deserving families and we are honored to partner with Rebuilding Together to serve these amazing communities."
The special was the final component of HGTV and DIY Network’s Raise a Roof College Challenge, which raised nearly $60,000 to support Rebuilding Together’s vision of a safe and healthy home for every person.
